We need to show intent: Allan Donald

Following back to back losses against Hyderabad and Punjab, Pune will be hoping for a turn around in fortunes as they take on Rajasthan in their second game. The hosts will be bolstered by the return of Yuvraj Singh, who had missed the game against Punjab due to a back injury.

Pune have some serious concerns with their batting as they failed to chase down a modest target of 127 against Hyderabad in their opening game and were bowled out for a paltry 99 against Punjab in their following game. Pune coach Allan Donald admitted that the intent was missing in the batsmen and hoped that their poor form ends quickly. "We have not shown the intent, we know that. That's what we have to address," Donald said.

Top order batsmen Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey have not been giving the team good starts and Donald said this was the first time that he saw these two players go into their shell, reckoning that the fear of failure could be the reason for their unimpressive performance in the power-play overs.

"We have not batted well during powerplay. It could be the fear (of failure). Players like Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey are free-flowing batsmen in their own right, but they have gone into a shell. I have not seen that before. But we have got to knuckle down and it's my responsibility to help them lift their game. The mission is get off the blocks and show some intent."

While Yuvraj will be back, Marlon Samuels will be missing in action due to a groin strain and Donald said Australia batsman Aaron Finch will replace him. However, the Pune coach did not mention if the Australian opener would play at the top of the order, which would probably mean a demotion for Pandey.

Donald wanted the senior players in the side to step up and take responsibility and said it is time for the team to come out of its shell.

"It's tough for them. Knowing the franchise and the torrid time they have been through in the last two years, I accept that. We have to keep it tight in the bus. Last year we fell off the bus and we went north, south, east and west. It's easy to go into a shell, but if we do we are dead as a team."

"We have people on board who can bounce back. The names on paper are not enough to win but we have the character, and now's the time to take responsibility. At the moment we are scrapping but our intent will be the key. It takes one or two players to show how it's done and then we are away."